Tension device for winding machines



Sept @3, i932. E, SNYDER TENSION DEVICE FOR WINDING MACHINES Filed July 26, 1926 2 SheeT/S-Sheet INVENTOR.

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Sept. 13, 1932. E, SNYDER 1,876,781

TENSION DEVICE FOR WINDING MACHINES Filed July ze, 192e 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 /O /4 1 -J l5 I9 INI/ENTOR. E. 52wk A TTORNE Y.

Patented- Sept. 13, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE EDWARD SNYDER, OF FORT' WAYNE, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR, :BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO GENERAL CABLE CORPORATION, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY TENSION DEVICE FOR WINDING- MACHINES AppHeation led July 2G,

The invention relates to tension producing devices for wire winding machines.

In the winding of wire coils for various purposes on winding machines, the wire is supplied to the machine from spools. Heretofore the spool of wire has been revoluhly supported on a spindle and various means for applying tension to the wire between the spool and the rotating mandrel of the machine have been used. In winding coils of very fine enameled wire the rotation of the spool by the wire as it leaves the spool places an additional strain on the wire Causing frequent fractures of the wire and resultant delay in the operation of the machine.

The object of the invention is to overcome the above objections by providing a simple device by which to effectively place tension on wire as it is wound from one device to another, such as from a fixed spool onto a revolving mandrel to form a coil.

Another object is to provide a device in which a spool of wire is supported in fixed position and the wire is withdrawn endwise of the spool.

Another object is to provide a wire tension device for a winding machine in which a switch to control the operation of the machine is automatically operated by the said device when a portion of the tension thereof is'released by a fracture of the wire or otherwise.

Other objects and advantages will appear hereinafter.

The invention consists in the novel combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and illustrated in the drawings, in which drawings Figure 1 is a side elevational view of the spool supporting and tension producing de* vice having the invention applied thereto; Fig. 2 a plan view of the same; Fig. 3 an enlarged front end view of the tension device;

l, Fig. 4 a cross-section on line 4 4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 a cross-section on line 5-5 of Fig. 1; Fig. 6 a side view of the tension producing device in operating position and Fig. 7 a diagram of the electrical circuits.

Referring to the illustrative embodiment of the invention, the spool support and ten- 1926. Serial No. 124,838.

sion device are formed as a unit for attachment to a suitable support 1 adjacent the winding machine indicated at W. The main frame consists preferably of a bar 2 the rear end of which is bifurcated to form two upstanding lugs 3 that are perforated for the reception of screws or bolts by which to secure the bar to the support. The material between the bifurcations is elongated and is bent downwardly to form a bracket and brace 3a which will abut the support 1. A spindle 4 is secured to the lower end of this bracket and projects laterally therefrom beneath the bar 2. A spool 0f wire 5 is engaged on this spindle. A spring 6 is carried by the spindle and is adapted to bear against the inner wall of the spool so that the spool is fixed on the spindle.

A plate 7 is mounted on the spindle at a suitable point relatively to the bracket against which one end of the spool abuts.

This plate prevents the wire on the spool from looping over the said end of the spool as it is being unwound.

A slot 8 is formed in the bar in which is slidably disposed a T-shapedblock 9 that is secured to an open ended cylinder 10. The lower side of the bar is concaved'to conform to the curvature of the cylinder so that the cylinder fits on the bar snugly. The concavity in the bar terminates at a selected point, a shoulder 11 being formed at the forward end against which the forward end of the cylinder may abut to limit the movement of the cylinder. The cylinder is, therefore, slidably mounted on the bar and the spindle 4 is axially disposed therein. Its function is to confine the wire as it whirls about the end of the spool when pulled from the spool.

The forward portion 12 of the bar 2 is bent downwardly and the forward end 13 is substantially parallel to the upper horizontal portion and in a selected position relatively to the axis of the spindle 4. Plates 14 and 15 are secured to the opposite edges of the end portion 13 of the bar and depend therefrom. Flanges 16 project laterally toward each other from opposite ends of the plates. Between the plates and abutting the flanges 16 at their opposite ends are two plates 17 and 18 and between the latter plates are two pads 19 and 20 formed of suitable friction material such as felt. The lower plate 18 is engaged by a cam or roller 21 that is eccentrically pivoted to the plates 14 and 15 and a rod 22 is secured to the cam by which the cam is rocked to raise or lower the lower plate 18 and compress or release the two intermediate pads.v A set screw 23 projects through the top 13 of the housing H formed by the said portion 13 of the bar 2 and the side plates 14 and 15, and engages the upper plate 17. The upper plate may be adjusted by the set screw as desired. The opposite ends of the pads are preferably bevelled or rounded off as shown in Fig. 4. A loop 24 depends from the bar 2 adjacent to the rear end of the housing H to prevent whipping of the wire as it moves from the cylinder toward the housing.

A wire 25 indicated in Fig. 6 is led from the spool and the cylinder, through the loop 24 and between the pads 19 and 20. From the pads the wire passes over a pulley 26 revolubly mounted on a shaft 27 that is a lateral extension of a rod 28 which lextends rearwardly exteriorly of the housing H and is bent laterally at its rear end and projected as a shaft 28a through both side plates or walls 14 and 15. A spring 29 is engaged on the rod 28 and on a screw 30 engaged in the plate 14. This spring opposes the downward movement of the rod and pulley, and a pin 31 projecting from the plate 14 limits the upward movement of the rod under the inliuence of the spring. The pivot 32 for the cam 21 may project from the wall 14 intol the path of the rod so that it will positively limit the downward movement of the rod and the pulley.

The pulley is retained on the shaft 27 by a nut 33 that is engaged on the threaded end of the shaft. rlhe nut abuts a fibre washer 34 which abuts a felt washer 35 that bears against the side of the pulley. A similar felt washer 36 and fibre washer 37 are similarly disposed on the opposite side of the pulley and a coiled spring 38 is secured at one end to the washer 37 and at its opposite end to a collar 39 adjustably secured to the shaft 27 by a set screw 40. The felt washers and the spring 38 place the required resistance on the pulley so that it will rotate at the proper speed in accordance with the size of wire being wound and the speed of the rotating member of the winding machine to which the wire'leads from the pulley.

A collar 41 is secured to the end of the shaft portion 28a of the rod 28 that projects through the wall 15 and secured to this collar is a rod 42 having an insulator 43 mounted on its free end and supporting a revolubly mounted annular contact or switch member 44 adapted to engage the terminals 45 and 46 of a switch 47.

Wires 48 and 49 are connected to the terminals respectively and are led through insulated brackets 50 and 51 mounted on the bar 2.

When the wire is being wound by the winding machine it draws the pulley downwardly causing the shaft 28a to rock and withdraw the contact from engagement with the switch terminals. Should the wire break at any point the tension on the spring 29 is released and the spring retracts the rod 28 causing the shaft 28 to rock and engage the contact on the terminals of the switch. rllhis engagement of the contact and terminals closes thc electrical circuit in the wires 48 and 49, the wires being connected to the power circuit A of the electric motor M of the winding machine through a .suitable relay 5() or other mechanism that will cause the winding machine to stop.

The friction pads 19 and 20 between which the wire 25 is projected retard and steady the movement of the wire, and the spring opposedpulley holds the wire between the pads and the winding machine in tension and takes up all slack therein. If too much slack occurs in said portion of the wire or a break therein occurs the switch is actuated by the retracting movement of the pulley support and the operation of the winding machine ceases.

Since the spool of wire is disposed parallel to the direction in which the wire is moved, the wire is withdrawn from the spool over the forward end thereof. The annular guard 10 confines the wire as it unwinds from the spool so that it will not entangle and the loop 24 guides the wire toward the pads. The wire is, therefore, fully protected between the spool and the friction pads, and the pads and the pulley place the required tension on the wire so that the feed of the wire is steady and without undue strain, and the winding machine may be driven at high speed and very quickly started and stopped.

Various modifications in the details of construction and arrangement of the parts will suggestthemselves to one skilled in the art, but I believe all such to be within the spirit of my invention, hence, I do not wish te be limited to the precise details above described and illustrated in the drawings.

What I claim is:

1. The combination with a spindle adapted to support a coil of wire, of an annular guard surrounding the spindle, adj ustably mounted members opposing each other and adapted to frictionally engage the wire when withdrawn from one end 'of the coil and through the annular guard, the path of the wire through and between the opposing members being substantially in alignment with the spindle, a revoluble member adapted to engage the wire beyond the adjustable members and a support for-the revoluble member pivotally mounted "to swing in the are of a circle.

2. The combination with a support of a plurality of opposed friction members movably carried by the support, means to adjust the friction members with respect to each other, a spindle projecting toward the friction members, the axis of said spindle substantially lying in the plane between the op- 3. The combination with a support, of a plurality of opposed friction members movably carried by the support, cam means to adjust the said members relatively to each other, an annular guard longitudinally movably mounted on the support, a spindle mounted on the support and projecting into the guard toward the friction members and a spool of wire on the spindle, the wire on which is adapted to be withdrawn from the end of the spool and frictionally engaged by the friction members.

4. The combination lwith a support, of a plurality of opposed friction members movably carried by the support, a cam engaging one of the friction members and adapted to adjust said member relatively tothe other member, an annular guard on the support, a spindle mounted on the support and projecting into the guard toward the friction members, a spool of wire on the spindle, the wire on which is adapted to be withdrawn from the end of the spool and frictionally engaged by the friction members, a shaft carried by the support and adapted to swing in the arc of a. circle and a member revolubly mounted on the shaft and adapted to engage the wire beyond the friction members.

5. ln mechanism of the class described the combination of a main frame, a spindle projecting horizontally forwardly from one end ofthe frame, a spool of wire removably fixed on the spindle, an open ended cylinder longitudinally slidably mounted on the main frame 1n axial alinement with the spindle and adapted to adjustably enclose the spool, a pair of plates loosely mounted at the opposite end of the main frame, friction members between the plates adapted to engage each other, an adjusting screw engaging the outer side of one of the plates and a revolubly mounted cam engaging the outer side of the other plate and supporting both lates on the main frame, the cam being a apted to move the plates to regulate the engagement of the friction members, the wire on the spool being unwound from the end of the spool and led between the friction members.

6. ln mechanism of the class described the com bination of a main frame, a fixed spindle projecting horizontally forwardly from one end of the frame, a spool of wire removably fixed on the spindle, a pair of spaced walls secured to the opposite end of the frame, a pair of plates between said walls, friction members between the plates, a cam revolubly supported by the said walls and engagin one of the plates and adapted to move sai plate toward the other plate, the wire on the spool being withdrawn over one end of the spool and passed between the friction members, an arm pivotally mounted on the-walls and projecting forwardly therefrom, a roller on the forward end of the arm adapted to engage the wire, two terminals of an electrical circuit mounted on one of the walls, and an arm connected to the pivoted arm and adapted to close the circuit between said terminals.

7. The combination in a device of the character described, of a spindle adapted to support a spool of wire, a guard for the spindle permitting withdrawal of wire over the end of the spool, a tension device comprising opposing members adapted to frictionally engage the wire therebetween, means for adjusting the opposing members relatively to each other, and a yielding take-up device beyond the tension device, the tension devicek and the take-up device being arranged so that normally during operation the path of the wire therethrough lies substantially in the extended longitudinal axis of the spindle.

8. The combination in a device of the character described, of two relatively movable plates, two pads carried between the plates, said pads being adapted to frictionally engage a wire passing therebetween, screw means cooperating with one of the plates to move it relative to the other plate to provide for a fine adjustment of the friction between the pads and the wire, and cam means cooperating with the other plate to provide for a quick release thereof to permit the separation of the pads and the insertion of a wire therebetween.

9. The combination in a device of the character described, of a spindle adapted to support a spool of wire, an annular guard adapted to substantially enclose the spindle and spool of wire, mounting means for the guard permitting adjustment thereof longitudinally of the spindle, and wire guiding and tensioning means positioned beyond one end of said guard and substantially in alignment with said spindle, whereby wire maybe drawn ofi' over the end of the spool and along the extended axis of the spindle under suitable tension.

In witness whereof I have hereunto signed my name this 23rd day of July, 1926.

EDWARD SNYDER. 

